Enemy in the Figure |Freedom Series | The Hunt | Revelations

Shows

An unmissable evening with four choreographies performed by Ailey II, an exceptional company that combines the spirit and energy of the best talents of young American dance with the passion and creativity of the best emerging choreographers.

Enemy in the Figure is the intensely propulsive central section of William Forsythe's work of the same name. Originally created in Germany for Ballet Frankfurt, the complete work has been performed in major venues around the world. Thom Willem's percussive and rhythmic electronic score was the source of the opera's choreographic invention and influenced the radical use of light and shadow in the original stage design.

Francesca Harper's Freedom Series travels through a landscape of memories creating a series of vignettes that embody and imagine a hybrid world where memory seeks to influence the future. Represented through this futuristic lens and developed in collaboration with the Ailey II dancers, Harper's work examines identity and community.

The Hunt, choreography for six men signed by Robert Battle reveals the predatory side of human nature and the primitive thrill of the hunt. The thunderous percussion of Les Tambours du Bronx drives the explosive movement to the boundaries between martial art, gladiatorial rituals and sporting disciplines. It is the sixth choreography created by Robert Battle for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Over spirituals, religious songs, gospel and African-American blues, Reveletions is an intense exploration of the places of deep pain and spiritual joy of the soul. Alvin Ailey has always maintained that one of America's greatest treasures is its African American cultural heritage, "sometimes painful, sometimes joyful, but always full of hope." This timeless classic is a tribute to that heritage and to Alvin's talent Ailey.

Ailey II was born in 1974 and embodies Alvin Ailey's pioneering intent to found a large cultural community that offers dance performances, education programs and other initiatives aimed at the public. Ailey II has grown into one of the most popular dance companies under the leadership of Sylvia Waters, chosen by Ailey as Artistic Director, holding this role for the company's first 38 seasons. Ailey School educated, daughter of the late Denise Jefferson (Ailey School principal 1984-2010) Francesca Harper brings new perspectives to the Ailey legacy during its inaugural season.
The company's repertoire includes creations by: Alvin Ailey, Talley Beatty, Donald Byrd, Ulysses Dove, George W. Faison, Lar Lubovitch, Judith Jamison and Ailey's artistic director Robert Battle, as well as works by emerging choreographers such as Sidra Bell , Jae Man Joo, Carlos dos Santos and Christopher L. Huggins. Ailey II's 12 rising stars inspire audiences in dozens of cities around the world.